The Castle is a no-frills 24 hour pub located near the Aldgate East tube station. What it lacks in décor it makes up for with a laid-back vibe and unbeatable drink prices. Happy hour, which starts at 9 PM features £1 bottles of Carlsberg lager! If lager isn’t your drink of choice try their house wine for only £6.00 a bottle.

The staff members were friendly and attentive. I never had to wait more than a couple of minutes for a beer, an impressive feat given the fact that there were only four bartenders attending to a heaving crowd.

The clientele is an interesting mix of students and neighbourhood residents, which creates a casual and pleasing environment to kick back and enjoy good conversation with your mates. Jeans, trainers, and funky tee shirts were the uniform of almost every punter, so you don’t have to fret before leaving the house that you will be dressed appropriately. After a few pints, wander upstairs with your friends and amuse yourself with a game of billiards while enjoying the indie tunes.